When I started this farming journey, I knew that physically, my body would be put to work.
Farming is inherently, a physical world – whether you’re moving mulch, setting up a shade house, or planting.
It’s August here in South Florida, and many farmers are probably getting ready for the growing season. To be your best, if there’s one thing that I can be thankful for, that’s really helped me out when I’m on the field, it’s yoga.
For the past 12 months, I’ve been improving my yoga practice – both individually and in group sessions in Fort Lauderdale.
I couldn’t help but notice some similarities between the movements I would practice in these group sessions and the functional movements I needed to apply on my farms.
For many farmers – especially migrant workers – the lower back is used when bending over to inspect plants or tend to crops. Anyone who’s had to squat to harvest greens knows what I’m talking about.
I prefer a full body fold to lengthen the spine from time to time. if you prefer sitting down, a seated forward fold can also suffice. Apart from lengthening the spine, these also help in flexing the hamstrings. Alternatively, if your hips are flexible enough, a Yogi Squat Pose, or prayer squat, can loosen up the pelvic floor. I find that I prefer to get low like this as it doesn’t put too much strain on my back.
There are also some movements within yoga that I’ve found helpful – even when standing up – such as when I need to leverage my weight to move material like mulch or soil. The warrior poses, in general, have been very helpful when centering my body and creating that stability.
And finally, the often unrealized benefit that my yoga practice has on my health and well-being is in practicing mindful breathing.
From what I’ve noticed during my sessions with Brynlee and my other instructors, steady breathing has increased my endurance significantly and has given me clarity to organize my thoughts to have more productive days.
A quick set anyone can practice is Box Breathing – which is known to reduce stress and anxiety.
To perform, it’s simple:
- Breathe in for 5
- Hold for 5
- Breathe out for 5
- Hold for 5.. and repeat for however many times you see fit.
I don’t think many people realize truly that a lot of the effort that we exert throughout the day – whether that be mental or physical.
Farming can often be viewed as this happy go lucky lifestyle to those who haven’t lived it – but ultimately, it’s hard work.
I hope that this gives you guys an incentive to add yoga, or stretching in general, to your daily or weekly practices. It goes without saying that a little bit goes a long way and the sooner you start, the better off your body will be when you’re tackling the terrain on your farms.
I’ll always encourage you guys to just. do. more.. Living a sustainable life is more than just recycling, or eating plant-based, its also about pouring intention back into the body, and taking the time to heal when you need to.